Lumber Sales Lead Industry Increase

Retail sales reached $64.5 billion in July, an increase of 6.1 per cent compared with the same month in 2021, with higher sales reported in 13 of the 19 commodity classes, says Statistic Canada’s ‘Retail Commodity Survey’ for July. The largest increase of commodity classes in dollar terms came from higher sales of automotive and household fuels (+39.1 per cent). Sales of automotive fuels posted their 17th consecutive monthly year-over-year increase in July, rising by 39.1 per cent compared with July 2021. Sales of hardware, tools, and renovation and lawn and garden products increased 8.1 per cent year over year. This increase was led by sales of lumber and other renovation materials and supplies (+8.0 per cent), as well as hardware and renovation-related products not elsewhere classified (+28.4 per cent). Sales slipped 2.8 per cent for home furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances, and electronics products.